New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-18
MUCH LIKE TWO TORNADOES.
THE CITY SWEPT BY TWO STORMS

BRANCHES TORN FROM TREEs-LIGHrNINa SHAT
TgRs TIVE FIELD BUILDING FLAGsTAFF.
Shortly before noon yesterday, after morning OF
almost unexampled hest and muggness, the blazing
rays OF the sun were hidden behind dense, black
closd that had como, like young Lochinvar In the
poem, out of the West" Thousands of people had
already fed out Of the baked and scorching atmos-
phcrc OF the town. But to the Thousands who
msined tho appearance Of the storm cloud suddenly
darkening the sky was promise OF Joy, for the
time being. at least. Those who sought the
tops and high places could trace its origin and prog
ress easily. Durin the morning few Khite bonny
| cabDer" clouds had been boiling up back of The
Orange Mountains, but not until II o'clock did they
give any promise Of relief to the perspirng thousands
Then the white vapor banks grew suddenly active,
boiled uo higher and higher and developed rapidly
iuto health Hooking "thandarheads," white at the
top and black at tho base. Even then for while 1t
was thouht they we're only wind clouds. But once In
motion the storm not Icns In developing. and 1t
swept across the sky with prodi 1ous rapidity. by
noon II had broken over the city.
terrific gust OF wind preceded the rain, which
carrad along with it dense clouds of dust that OBJ
scured all objects than 100 yards distant from
the hehOlder.
Tho dust clouds assumed fantastic spiral and funnel
sl. P-s, which caused some alarm, for many people
thsnght from the force with which the wind was
o,ing that . tornado its wav. Branches of
trees we're snapped Of aud strewn along the sda
walks aud in the parks; leaves were stripped from
lin q that beId OIL windows In many places were
smashed Ia by tho force OF the wind signs swing.
Violently VIC sh"t. In BrookIyo trees were blown dat
and ether dsmage done. In he Park Menagerie The
animals acted they always do before elemental
disturbance OF any magnitude. those IN the cages
roared the elephants tugged at thsir chains and
trumpced and in the great bird cages the occupants
rom me .urdns mgra.orlous az .ae ,h s
South American vulture, sought secluded and dark
corners aud went to roos Even tho majestic bald
| headed ird-o-reedom was swed by the blaoknes,
Il t0rff
front tucked bis head under his wing and looked as
II he would not have resisted cock sparrow II the
| later had chosen TO attack him.
Fac rain that followed in the wake OF the wind came
down la snch torrents seldom seen even In sum
| mer uJrms in this latitude. The lightning played
| frequently ana wildly from the clouds. and the
thunder rolls loud aud long. The heaviest part
OF the storm In this vicinity seemed to be over Brook
yn and the lower part OF this city and the bay where
Post Office observed, IL tho bvtom bad fell out"
During the light OF the electrical display sparks ew
from the telephones In offices Ia the lower part
OF the city 1h.re much interruption to telephone
wires downtown, and sono damage done to telegraph
| wires also
ave ad many wires blown down between here
and Newark, and between here and Paterson" said
the OF the Western Union main office at Dey-
st. and Brosdway YESTERDAY ns hut Ss S1 the storm
were many telegraph poles also blown down, but 1t
! being SUNDAY our linemen not being on duty we
came get q correct estimate OF the damage 1t was
the suddenest storm to come up ever saw. Usually
| We tell In tho OH here OF tho approach OF a
storm when 10 still is fifty miles away but We know
noihing OF this till II right on top OF us.'
White the storm was'at its height unusually
vivid sash OF lightning struck tho tall heg-pv'e on
Cyrus W. Fields Washington Building. The shaft
was shattered into splinter, and the large gilt ball
which surno united II carried away A large piece
tom the shattered shalt picked up in the yard OF
Castle Garden.
1he storm was about three,luarters of an hour IN
passing the city. IL went away IN an easterly
direction and hen darkness ten the Ienpants oil IT,
Ia the shape of low. dark bank OF clouds, could still
| be seen hoyering over Long Island Though u had
fllei tho streets with binding clouds OF sand aud
dust. don. or less damage and frightened many
landsmen who happened to be ahost II lett purified
and ireshcned air. trees and grass iu the city and
drew thousands o people out in the COO parks In the
evening.
| AtIip n. another storm from the west and
| sweyf over the cty accompanied by even higher
wind. and VIVID lightning than the storm oil the
10 weak and exposed window frames was even
greater than IN the mornings disturbance. Pedes-
trians driven from the streets, and many return
| ing pilgrims from out OF town we're caught and
| drenched iof umbrellas woisc than useless IN
the high wnd. The thunder rolled ana the lightning
flashed in the dark heavens till time after mid
/ night.
| From the records kept nv the Signal Service OBJ
server IL ascertained that the wind blew twenty
tour miles hour In the morning. and roared along
at the of thirv-sx miles hour in the evening.
! Tho highest point reached during the day by
| Hudnuts thermometer was 9l'. jest before noon.
The rainfall In the morning was .55 inch.